HomeReportsIraq (Bashur)SPECIAL APPEAL – Help disabled Kurdish girl Liya get the treatment she needs, and help make her dreams come true

SPECIAL APPEAL – Help disabled Kurdish girl Liya get the treatment she needs, and help make her dreams come true

There are many people affected by serious health conditions, and some do not have enough money to receive the treatment they need to improve their quality of life. Liya Rebin is one child who needs financial assistance to help treat her health condition – and we ask your assistance in helping her get the treatment she needs and help make her dreams come true.

Liya Rebin, age 6, was born with a rare congenital disorder known as Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS), and as a result her right eye is paralysed and cannot be closed when she wants to sleep, and both of her ears are malformed and closed, and she cannot hear.

Liya’s mother and father went to Tehran, Iran five times to pursue treatment for their daughter, and have sent many health reports to India for review, but have not found a suitable and affordable treatment option. Liya’s mother, Siwana Qadir, said, “We were only able to buy a hearing aid for her, which cost $5,000. Twice it broke, and each time it cost $100 to fix.”

Liya’s congenital health condition has also caused her psychological stress, as other children are not accepting of her. Her father, Rebin Mohammed explains, “Liya is now older and understands things better and expresses emotions. When other children look at her differently or move away from her, she becomes sad. She spends a lot of time looking at her eyes and ears in the mirror.”

Liya needs many operations. The first operation would be to open her ear canals, and this operation is very important as it would allow her to hear. This operation costs $40,000.

After this operation, other operations are needed to fix the right eye and teeth and facial bone structure, which altogether will cost an estimated $150,000.

Many parties have been contacted in an attempt to help Liya but with little result. The Ministry of Health has been contacted, as has the leadership of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), but no reply has been received.Liya dreams of being able to hear with her own ears, and to grow up and become a doctor to treat children like herself.

To help Liya Rebin get the treatment she needs and make her dreams come true, a charity campaign has been launched. The following are local contact persons in Iraqi Kurdistan who can help you if you would like to assist with this campaign.